Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant treatment in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent sustained arrhythmia. Overall prevalence is estimated to 5.5% and the incidence increases with age. As the population ages, the prevalence and costs of AF are expected to increase. AF is the most important cause of stroke in patients>75years. Until recently, Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) were the only available oral anticoagulants (OACs) evaluated for long-term treatment of patients with AF with or without coronary heart disease (CHD). This situation was challenged by introduction of non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

Source: International Journal of Cardiology - August 3, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Xavier Humbert, Vincent Roule, Mathieu Chequel, Sophie Fedrizzi, Marie Brionne, V éronique Lelong-Boulouard, Paul Milliez, Joachim Alexandre Tags: Review Source Type: research